The turnaround: a good place to start · Reharmonization · Music theory
The turnaround is the formula that brings back the tonic at the end of a section: I – VI – II – V. It is repeated so often that it is ideal for practice.…
The turnaround: a good place to start
The turnaround is the formula that brings back the tonic at the end of a section: I – VI – II – V. It is repeated so often that it is ideal for practice. It takes almost anything and still works, because its ending is so clear.
Its commonest substitution is to replace I with IIIm⁷, make VI a dominant, A7, and use the substitute instead of V: Em7 – A7 – Dm7 – D♭7 – C. Everything is heard here in four bars: substitution, secondary dominant, II – V, substitute. Practice by transposing these turnarounds to other keys: then they stop being theory.